Trump pleads not guilty to mishandling classified documents in Miami court

Donald Trump has entered a not guilty plea to historic charges of mishandling classified documents at a federal court in Miami, Florida. Trump is the first US president, either current or former, to face a federal criminal indictment. Appearing sombre and subdued in court, he wore a dark suit and red tie with his arms crossed. This marked the second time Trump appeared in court this year, but Tuesday’s case carried more severe implications.

In a courtroom on the 13th floor, Trump’s lawyer entered a not guilty plea on 37 counts of illegally retaining classified documents and obstructing the government’s efforts to retrieve them. “We most certainly enter a plea of not guilty,” attorney Todd Blanche informed the judge. Trump’s co-defendant, Walt Nauta, a close aide charged with six criminal counts in the case, sat at the same table as the former president. Trump did not address the judge directly and occasionally leaned over to speak to one of his attorneys. On the opposite side of the room was the entire prosecution team, including special counsel Jack Smith, who announced the indictment last week.

The former president, 76 years old, was permitted to leave court without any restrictions on domestic or international travel. Prosecutors informed Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman that the defendant was not considered a flight risk. However, Trump is not allowed to discuss the case with Nauta. After the hearing, the Republican gave supporters a thumbs up as his motorcade departed from the courthouse. He and his security detail proceeded directly to Versailles, a popular Cuban restaurant in Miami’s Little Havana, where he was greeted by numerous supporters who queued for photos with the former president. Trump participated in a prayer with some patrons and was serenaded with a chorus of Happy Birthday to You, ahead of his 77th birthday on Wednesday.

The frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination was driven to court by motorcade from the Trump National Doral resort where he had spent the night. Accompanying him was one of his sons, Eric Trump. During the drive, several messages were posted to his account on the social media platform Truth Social, including one in all capital letters stating, “One of the saddest days in the history of our country. We are a nation in decline!!!”

Alina Habba, an attorney for the former president, reiterated Trump’s claims that the charges were politically motivated as she spoke to the media outside court. “We are at a turning point in our nation’s history; the targeting prosecution of a leading political opponent is the type of thing you see in dictatorships like Cuba and Venezuela,” she told reporters. “What is being done to President Trump should terrify all citizens of this country,” she added.

Prior to the hearing, court officials stated that Trump would not have a mugshot taken but would be digitally fingerprinted and asked to submit a DNA sample by swab. A trial date has yet to be set, although the case is still designated for Aileen Cannon, a federal district judge in South Florida who was appointed by Trump. The former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, is expected to return to his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he will address the media.

Small groups of Trump supporters and counter-protesters assembled outside the court. City authorities had prepared for potential unrest, but Mayor Francis Suarez informed reporters on Tuesday afternoon that there had been no security issues. The charges, which were made public on Friday, arose after FBI agents discovered over 100 documents with classified markings at Trump’s private Florida estate Mar-a-Lago in August. The documents allegedly contained information about the defence and weapons capabilities of both the US and foreign countries, as well as plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack. Prosecutors accuse him of hoarding the files, storing some in a ballroom and a bathroom, and of engaging in a conspiracy with an aide to obstruct the FBI’s inquiry.

Trump’s legal issues do not appear to have diminished his support among Republican voters. A poll by the BBC’s US partner CBS found that 76% of likely Republican primary voters were more concerned about the indictment being politically motivated than about the documents posing a national security risk. In an interview with a Spanish-language radio programme on Monday, Trump accused the Biden administration of weaponising law enforcement agencies against him.

Protocol dictates that the Department of Justice, the federal agency that enforces US law, should operate independently from the White House. President Joe Biden stated last week, “I have never once – not one single time – suggested to the justice department what they should do.” Legal experts say the criminal charges could result in significant prison time if Trump is convicted. However, he has vowed to continue his campaign for president, regardless of the verdict.

Trump’s court appearance is his second in less than three months. He was arraigned in April in New York on charges that he falsified business records for a hush-money payment to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.